4 Tips To Survive Your Trip On Thanksgiving Sunday

Travelers make their way to the gates at the American Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

For years, broadcasters have repeated the same line: "the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, traditionally the biggest travel day of the year." But they're wrong. The biggest travel day of the Thanksgiving holiday is still to come.

It's this Sunday, which I'm nicknaming "Travel Sunday" (since we have Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, I figured I'd claim it).

Airlines have long known that while people drift back home for the holidays over about a week long period, everyone wants to get home at the same time. The same is true for people who go by highway and Amtrak.

Many people, at least those with warm family relationships, wants to squeeze the final hours out of a trip. Those who don't have probably already packed their bags, or at least will do so after they finish their Black Friday shopping. And in fact, Saturday is usually a fairly light travel day.

Earlier this week, I gave you some tips for dealing with pre-Thanksgiving travel. They'll still be good next year. Now, here's a set for the back end of your trip.

1) Don't wait to pack. Of course, you're spending time this weekend with friends and family, and the last thing you want to be is organized. But you'll get off to a quicker start on Sunday if you pull yourself together on Saturday -- preferably Saturday afternoon, so you can leave the evening free for one more round of festivities. I know, football is tempting, and so is one last trip to the mall. But, if you can set aside an hour to get everything pulled together before nightfall, you'll be much happier in the morning, when you can grab and go.

2) Leave early. I cannot stress this enough. If you're driving, get out of Dodge as early as possible. If you're headed to the airport, leave yourself tons of time to get there. There won't just be crowds to check bags, at TSA and at the gate, there will be crowds on the roads, too. Just assume you're going to hit the equivalent of rush hour traffic, and plan accordingly. The same is true for train stations. Pretty much figure that your friends will not be gliding right up to the front door of Union Station in D.C. or in Chicago to drop you off. Expect delays. Also, if you have a choice of taking the early Megabus or waiting until the last one, take the early one. All that same holiday traffic in which motorists get caught will also affect your trip back to work or school. Here's another thing to consider: if you are leaving on a business trip this Sunday (lucky you), many airport lots may be full, since travelers haven't yet returned to claim their cars. Have a backup parking option if you have to go somewhere besides your usual garage.

3.) Ship your luggage. If you took part in Black Friday sales, you are most likely leaving with more than you came with. Multiply that by all 150 people on your plane, and you can understand what you'll be facing when you get to the airport or the train station on Sunday. Set aside the things you absolutely don't need with you when you get home Sunday night, and make a trip to your post office, UPS store or Fedex. I've been completely satisfied with Fedex's luggage shipping service, and especially if you have a doorman or a safe place where they can leave the delivery, it's a wonderful way to lessen travel headaches.

4.)Where did you park? Sunday night isn't the time to figure out where you left the car in the airport or train station lot. Take a minute before you leave to remind yourself of the location of your car. One trick I use on every trip is to jot down, either on the parking ticket or in my phone, the nearest location sign in the airport, i.e. B3 or Green Zone 2 or whatever cute name they've given my floor. It saves a lot of exhausted panic upon arrival.

Of course, we're all going to be a little worn out on Monday, but you can be the bright eyed and chipper one on the conference call if you just think ahead. And just think of all the extra energy you'll have for online shopping.